CVE-2018-17385 in Social Factory
Summary
by MITRE
SQL Injection exists in the Social Factory 3.8.3 component for Joomla! via the radius[lat], radius[lng], or radius[radius] parameter.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2018-17385 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Social Factory component version 3.8.3 for Joomla! platforms. This vulnerability specifically affects the radius parameter handling mechanism, where attackers can manipulate three distinct parameters including radius[lat], radius[lng], and radius[radius] to execute malicious sql commands. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the component's backend processing logic, allowing unauthorized users to inject malicious sql payloads directly through these parameter fields.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly escape or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into sql queries. Attackers can construct malicious payloads that bypass normal input filtering mechanisms, enabling them to manipulate the underlying database structure. The radius parameters are particularly susceptible because they likely represent geographic coordinate data that the application processes for location-based services or mapping features. When these parameters are not properly sanitized, an attacker can inject sql commands that may result in data extraction, modification, or deletion of sensitive information stored within the database.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable complete database compromise and potentially full system takeover. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can access all data stored within the application's database, including user credentials, personal information, and potentially administrative access details. The vulnerability affects the entire Joomla! ecosystem where the Social Factory component is installed, making it particularly dangerous for websites that rely on location-based services or geographic data processing. The attack surface is further expanded because the vulnerability affects parameters commonly used in mapping and geolocation features, which are frequently implemented in modern web applications.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, including immediate patching of the Social Factory component to version 3.8.4 or later where the sql injection flaw has been addressed. Input validation and sanitization should be enhanced at the application level to ensure all parameters are properly escaped before database processing occurs. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting database user permissions to only those operations necessary for the application's functionality. Additionally, web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious sql injection patterns targeting these specific parameter names. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which categorizes sql injection as a fundamental weakness in application security, and it maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components and ensure comprehensive protection against sql injection attacks across their entire web application infrastructure.